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Updated: Jan 8, 2026
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Published on: June 16, 2023
Characterising life-space mobility and its relationship to physical capacity and outdoor walking in older adults with
Tsz Wing Tiu1, Jacqueline Bond1, Stephanie Fleming1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Purpose:
To describe life-space mobility (LSM) and its relationship with physical capacity (PC) (walking endurance, walking speed, leg strength, balance), and outdoor walking in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors.
Methods:
A secondary analysis of baseline data from 173 adults aged ≥ 65 years with mobility limitations in the Getting Older Adults Outdoors (GO-OUT) study was conducted. LSM was measured using the Life-space Assessment (LSA), and PC was assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 10-meter walk test (10mWT) at a comfortable and fast pace, 30-second sit-to-stand (30sSTS), and mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest). The relationship between scores on PC measures and outdoor walking time, assessed by the CHAMPS-OUTDOORS questionnaire, and LSA score, was examined using Spearman correlations and backward stepwise regression modelling, adjusted for age and sex.
Results:
Mean LSA score was 64.6 ± 20.2. Scores on each study measure had a fair and positive correlation (p < 0.01) with LSA score: 6MWT (ρ = 0.42), 10mWT (ρ = 0.44, 0.45), 30sSTS (ρ = 0.43), mini-BESTest (ρ = 0.43), and CHAMPS-OUTDOORS (ρ = 0.28). The final regression model, including 10mWT, 30sSTS, mini-BESTest, explained 31% of LSA score variance.
Conclusion:
PC and outdoor walking time relate to LSM in community-dwelling older adults with difficulty walking outdoors, though outdoor walking time has a weaker correlation with LSM.
